Sports Bulletin Report
ISLAMABAD:-It was an exciting day of Pro League action as the No. 13 world ranked France toppled the No. 3-ranked Indian side in an exciting 5-2 game in South Africa. While the France defence were outstanding, it was the firing offence that put on a show. India struggled to convert on penalty corners and could only tally from the stroke mark. In the game following, Dennis Warmerdam buried two fantastic goals to lead the Netherlands to a 6-2 victory and pick up Player of the Game honours.
France v India (men) – Potchestfstroom, University of North West (RSA)
France’s impenetrable defence powered the team to a 5-2 win, after taking Netherlands to a 2-2 tie just days earlier. Victor Charlet lead in scoring with a pocket of set pieces, while Viktor Lockwood, Charles Masson and Timothée Clément also got on the scoresheet. Penalty strokes from Jarmanpreet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh were all India could muster despite 13 penalty corner attempts.
France found their go-ahead goal in the 35th minute when Baumgarten’s quick free pass found its way to Lockwood on the left baseline. Lockwood crafted his way through the Indian defence and blasted a tight-angled shot out of the air and through the legs of Sreejesh.
Speaking of his goal, Player of the Match Viktor Lockwood said: 'It was crazy, I don't really strike on anything but my reverse, so that was a surprise. We had a difficult first game but now we are in the competition. We brought a lot of energy which made up for lack of prep.'
South Africa v Netherlands (men) – Potchestfstroom, University of North West (RSA)
The Netherlands dominated the game to a 6-2 victory over hosts, South Africa, in the second game of Pro League play today. Dennis Warmerdam buried two goals and was named Player of the Match as the Dutch showed fine form in their build up all night, while it was their final moves as they entered the circle that were as if someone was pulling a trigger – piercing and direct.
After the game Warmerdam said: 'I preferred my first goal of the two, it was great counter and all I had to do was tap it in. [Referring to his recovery from cancer] It is a medical miracle that I am standing here.'
To open the scoring, Jorrit Croon’s aerial into the circle was mishandled between South Africa’s Daniel Bell and keeper Estiaan Kriek. Thijs van Dam scooped up the loose ball and put it in the untended net for a 1-0 Netherlands lead just before the first quarter break.
South African captain Keenan Horne said after the match: 'It was about small margins. If we had scored the penalty stroke it may have been a different game. But it was much better than our previous two games. We have gone back to basics and defended well. Defence is the cornerstone of our play.’
Argentina v Belgium (women & men) – Cenard, Buenos Aires (ARG)
The Leonas were out in fine form as they dropped Belgium 3-1 in front of a roaring home crowd. Eugenia Trinchinetti’s pair of goals lead the way for the home side, while Maria Granatto, recently Pan American Cup’s Player of the Tournament, netted the game-winner. Skipper Alix Geniers was the lone Belgian scorer in the match.
After the game Trinchinetti said: ‘We think that the key was that we kept on trying to play our game. We know that Belgium is a really good team and their defence is really good so we are going to see the [video] of this match and prepare for tomorrow.’
After the game Gerniers said: ‘The three first quarters were quite okay but then we let go a bit in the last quarter and I think we are quite disappointed about the result. We need to see the video and see what we can do better and tomorrow is another day and another game.’
Speaking after the game Argentina’s Agustin Bugallo was named Player of the Match and said: ‘It was a really nice result in Argentina with [a home crowd] and we are very happy with that. I think we are improving as a team but we have another fight for tomorrow. We have to rest tonight.’
FIH Pro League – 12 February 2021
Potchestfstroom, University of North West (RSA)
Result: Men’s Match 11
France 5, India 2
Player of the Match: Viktor Lockwood (FRA)
Umpires: Sean Rapaport (RSA), Annelize Rostron (RSA), Ayden Shrives (RSA-video)
Result: Men’s Match 13
South Africa 2, Netherlands 6
Player of the Match: Dennis Warmerdam (NED)
Umpires: Ayden Shrives (RSA), Wanri Venter (RSA), Sean Rapaport (RSA-video)
Cenard, Buenos Aires (ARG)
Result: Women’s Match 9
Argentina 3, Belgium 1
Player of the Match: Maria Granatto (ARG)
Umpires: Irene Presenqui (ARG), Catalina Montesino (CHI), Diego Barbas (ARG-video)
Result: Men’s Match 12
Argentina 2, Belgium 1
Player of the Match: Agustin Bugallo (ARG)
Umpires: German Montes de Oca (ARG), Diego Barbas (ARG), Irene Presenqui (ARG-video)
